Frederik A De Wolff
May 13, 1995
Citations
0
Influential Citations
24
Citations
Journal
BMJ
Abstract
Antimony is a metal in group Vb of the periodic system, just below arsenic, with which it shares several chemical and toxicological properties. Considered to be a non-essential trace element, it occurs naturally in the trivalent and pentavalent states with sulphur, mainly as stibnite ore (Sb2S3).1 Antimony's main applications are industrial—it is used in alloys for hardening lead (for example, in batteries and bullets); in flame retardants for plastics; in semiconductors; and in therapeutics, in which it is applied in organic forms such as sodium stibogluconate in the treatment of leishmaniasis. Antimony potassium tartrate has been used as an emetic and as an intravenously administered anthelmintic.2 Relatively little is known of the toxicity of antimony compared with that of metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury, or arsenic. Recently, attention has been drawn to its possible role in the sudden infant death syndrome.3 4 The toxic effects of metals are related to the chemical form to which peoples are exposed. “Antimony toxicity” does not exist; every compound of the metal must be considered to be a separate toxicological entity. …